Unlocking The Ancient Secrets Of The Prayer Shawl Pt. 1 Series

B 2 Kings 2.5-8

1 He took his mantle, wrapped up the tassels, hit the waters of the Jordan & the waters parted. (He & Elisha went across)

a While they’re walking up the mountain Elijah asks Elisha, “What do you want?”

aa Tall order! Double anointing!

bb If you see me when I go . . It will be so (2 Kings 2.11)

b On Elijah’s way up, apparently he takes off his leather girdle/Camel hair tallit . . . to give Elisha his double-portion.

aa Elisha took the mantle, went back to the Jordan alone w/ 50 kid preachers watching from the other side.

bb “Where is the Lord God of Elijah?” Elisha took the tallit, hit the water and walked over on dry ground . . . beginning his double-miracle ministry. (Elijah 14, Elisha 27 when he died)

2 Elijah went to heaven alive, Elisha died like other men and was buried one miracle shy of his promised double.

a The bible tells another miracle that both men did was to raise 12 year old boys from the dead (2 Kings 4.32-24)

b Jewish tradition says Elisha covered the boy in his tallit, wrapped the tzitzits around the boys hand, breathed into him and raised him from the dead.

3 When Elisha died he was buried and the Bible tells us that some Jewish soldiers coming back from battle carrying the body of one of their countrymen.

a 2 Kings 12.21

b Without knowing it, they threw his body in Elisha’s grave, touched his bones and . . . the soldier came back to life. . . number 28! EVEN IN DEATH GOD KEEPS HIS PROMISES!!!

4 After Elisha’s death, the priests looked high & low to find one worthy of the camel hair tallit & priestly leather girdle. None.

a Jewish history tells us that they built a stand & placed it beside the alter of incense in the Temple . . . waiting for one to come who was worthy

b Mal. 4.5 (This spreads throughout all of Israel...looking)

aa Still looking!

bb Jewish Seder they still put a place seating out for Elijah (Pour wine in the glass!)

c With Babylonians destruction of the Great Temple in 587 BC, we lose track of Elijah’s mantle until . . .

C Luke 1.5 (Zacharias the priest was elected to go into the Holy Place)

1 Luke 1.11, 17 John! (Spirit & Power of Elijah)

a Fast Forward 30 years, along the Jordan river (Where Elijah was last seen) John the Baptist appears.

b Matt. 3.4!!

c 7 As these men were going away, Jesus began to speak to the crowds about John, . . .And if you are willing to accept it, John himself is Elijah who was to come. 15 He who has ears to hear, let him hear. Matt 11:7b, 14,15 (NASB)

2 What we see is a fulfillment of prophecy as the mantel of Elijah being put on John The Baptist as he preached the Messiah.

D Jesus (as a Jewish man & Rabbi) would have worn a tallit.

1 In the synoptic gospels (Matt. Mk. Lk.) we read of our Savior coming ashore the city of Carpurniam where He was asked to go & heal the very sick 12 year old daughter of Jairus, an official of the synagogue in that city. (Mk. 5.21-23)

a As Jesus went with Jairus a large crowd pressed in close so they might receive blessing, healing, or just a glimpse of tall, olive complected man from Nazareth.